Why visit a publisher's website?

Here’s an interesting question:

“Who published the Harry Potter series?”

Try asking five of your friends, I am betting you will be surprised by how many have no idea.

The point is that the average reader not only has no interest in who publishes a book, but more importantly has very little reason to visit the publisher’s website.

The challenge that history publishers face is to not only produce reasons for a customer to visit their site, but to also develop a brand that extends beyond their products.

So let’s take the example of a military history enthusiast who is interested in finding out more about the Battle of Hastings. A publishes website will not be his first port of call. This might be their first, followed by this but not a publisher’s website. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The key is not to see a person who buys a book about the Battle of Hastings as a one off customer but as a member of a community. They may be interested in the battle but they are also interested in what other enthusiasts are saying. They are interested in military history in general. They are probably interested in reading what authors have to say beyond their books. They will want to contribute to online forums. They will be willing to share their own research, post photographs of last summer’s battlefield tour and offer tips on the best books about, well just about anything.

So a publisher should be offering a platform for all this to happen. A place where enthusiasts can come every day, and you never know in the process they might buy a few more books.